'Kitaabon Par Dhool' - Umesh Yadav Posts Cryptic Message Against BCCI's Selectors
Umesh Yadav [X.com]
Umesh Yadav made a cryptic story post after his absence from the Test playing scene continued as the selectors ignored the Indian speedster for the final three Tests of the series against England on Saturday (February 10). The 'Vidarbha Express', who last played a Test in mid 2023, hasn't been recalled in the Test set-up since.
Dropped presumably because of his lost pace and the inability to retain strength, intensity and threat deep into his spells at the age of 36, the right-arm enforcer last turned out in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) at The Oval against Australia and has since missed all of India's following six Tests, including the first two Tests of the ongoing series.
The post contained a reference to Umesh's age playing a deterrent to his comeback with the selectors and the management choosing to look elsewhere and give youngsters a chance to ease into the in-transition squad.
Umesh Yadav's Cryptic Post Amidst Test Snub
"Kitaabon par dhool jamne se, kahaaniyan khatm nahi hoti (If there is dust on the book, it doesn’t mean the story is over)," wrote the player in his story post on Instagram even as his return to first-class cricket with the Ranji Trophy for Vidarbha has fetched 19 scalps in four matches.
Fears of the ageing Umesh being gradually phased out were rife since February-March last year when Mohammed Siraj played ahead of him during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite a terrific home record.
From the beginning of 2017, the experienced bowler took 68 wickets in 18 home Tests at an astonishing average of just 21.72. However, there were clear signs since his injury-forced absence after playing the MCG Test of the 2020-21 Australia tour that the bowler has lost speed through the air.
Umesh has an overall tally of 170 Test wickets in 57 matches at 30.95 apiece, including three five-wicket hauls and a best of 6 for 88.